1975 300d - not running
 

Found some info, so edited the title now....original thread below. :)

In a 1975 Mercedes-Benz 300D, 5 cyl. inline diesel.

Thinking of looking at it.original interior, motor and transmission. Driven through the summer and spring months. Has not been stared over the last year. It has four new tires, rebuilt top-end of motor. There is minor surface rust around the rear bumper.

Or so they say....what should I be looking for? And price range would be good, too.

First thing to check is see if it starts in January in Alberta.

If it starts, see if the heater fan works. Fixing the heater fan would exceed the value of the car.

That's what I was thinking. :D

I'm looking for this model-specific type of problems to watch out for....ie. on my 300sd you usually watch out for chassis rusting, as that model is prone to do that.

Thanks,
Dunl

Think of it as sort of a primitave 123.

Seat pads may be shot, including seat backs.

Check for steering box bolts loose or broken.

Not kidding about the heater fan.

Rumbling noises may indicate bad engine Mounts.

Certain things on that car are hard to service, oil filter, water pump, etc.

What's the price range for one of these in good running order, without visible problems, and minor surface rust (I drove by it, large spot underneath side rear bumper).

Thanks,
Dunl

I think it varies quite a bit regionally. Fact is, the only buyers would be hard core MB diesel enthusiasts or wvo dreamers. Definitely a buyers market, except possibly on US west coast. I would say not more than $1500 for one without major issues.

I paid C$3500 for mine, bought from Waterloo Ont.- a little too much perhaps, but it has been very good to me. 158,000 miles and no major problems besides driver's side rusting front of floor, and howling speedometer on cold days. I have a replacement, but too lazy to put it in.

Dave
1976 300D

Just called about it. It was overheating on them, so they thought it might be the pump. Not the head gasket, because they said that when they bought it the guy mentioned that it had a new head put into it.

However, now it won't run for them at all. Doesn't start. Turns over and everything, but doesn't start. He tried to set the timing three times, but has no luck with it.

And as for starting in cold weather when it was running, he said it just didn't. Sounds like glow plugs.....

Is there a chance this could be just a glow plug issue?

Thanks

Unless it has been updated (unlikely) that car has series glow plugs. If one is out, none of them work. If it glows at all, the plugs are good. My scientific wild guess would be that they may have lost the pump timing somehow when they had the head off or when they were monkeying with it, or they totally lost fuel prime and have the pump full of air. Another possibility is that they toasted the starter trying to get it running. Also, it may have summer weight oil in it.

In non-running condition, it's a $500 parts car. You may or may not be able to get it running easily.

Not the starter, as it turns over easy enough.

How hard are the other problems to fix?

Thanks.

I think Palangi mentioned the starter as it not only needs to spin, but do so at a very robust pace. Especially in your non-Texas environement.:D

So a new starter might be in the works, eh? Might be worth getting as a fixer-upper, I don't know......

Going completely aesthetic now....how hard is it to bring back 31 year old oxidized paint? Can it actually be done?


And what do you mean "non-Texas environment"? You mean you guys didn't get 1/2 of snow in the last 15 minutes (start to finish) like we just did? :D

Heck, it has only rained once since June at my place! Grass fires everywhere. Been running the AC in the wagon several times in the last two weeks.
And what is this "snow" you speak of......;)

Actually, starter is probably fine. As Palangi said, it probably has timing issues from the aftermath of the head replacement. You might can pick it up cheaply and start to tinker. It will never be a show car, but you can get it looking good enough with a non-expensive paint job if you so desire.

Whats wrong with the heaters, and how much is it to fix, and WHY???

****, mine doesnt work right, its blowing fuses every year

~Nate